Score pad displaying and supporting device for card tables



March 7, 1933. 1 A A 1,900,513

SCORE PM DISPLAYiNG AND SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CARD TABLES Filed July 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. |,.I""' a.

A TTORNEYS.

March 7, 1933. MARSH 1,900,513

SCORE PAD DISPLAYING AND SUPPORTING- DEVICE FOR CARD TABLES Filed July 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

March 7, 1933. L, A. 'MARSH 1,900,513

SCORE PAD DISPLAYING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CARD TABLES Filed July 1, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M a. W

A TTORNEYS.

Human. 1.14m

PATENT OFFICE UNITE-D STATES LUCIEN 4. man, or run. VALLEY, cum-om scone rm msrmme' Arm surromme DEVICE roa cum mama Application iiled July 1, 1929. Serial No. 375,002.

This invention relates to game tables, and it particularly pertains to a card table adapted for use in playing bridge and similar games wherein a written record of the score is required. a

In playing a card game necessitatmg the keeping of a written record of the score, a score pad is usually placed loosely on the table and it is frequently in the way of the players. Also in games such as bridge, where the players refer continuall to the score, the score pad must be passe around among the players, which is annoying to the players and interrupts the game.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved card table adapted for use in playing card games requiring a written record of the score, WhlCl]. table includes a score pad carrier normally disposed in an unobstructing position, placing the score 'in the line of vision of all the players, and capable of being uickly positioned so that access may be had t ing the score.

In carrying out this object into practice, I provide a card table of substantially conventional appearance with the exception that a glass covered sight opening is arranged centrally in its top. Below this opening is a trackway which aligns with an opening in one side of the table. A car riage is positioned on this trackway for reciprocation. This carriage is operative so that it maybe extended from the side of the table for recording the score, or be disposed beneath the table top in an unobstructing position. The carriage carries printed rules of the game and a score pad. When the carriage is positioned beneath the table top in an unobstructing position, the score pad is visible through the sight opening and is in the line of vlsion of all the players. The carriage may be so positioned, when necessary, so that the printed rules or other data pertaining to the game may be visible through the sight opening.

The invention is exemplified in the following description, and illustrated by way of eiglamlple in the accompanying drawings, in w 10 ereto for record- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a card table embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage carrying a score pad and rules of the game,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the table disclosing the carriage in unobstructing osition, with the score pad in alignment with the sight opening,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3, disclosing the construction of the trackway and the manner in which the carriage is mounted therein under the table top.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentar view in plan, showing the means for late ing the carriage when it is not extended,

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a card tablewith the top thereof removed and disclosing a mechanical means for reciprocating the carriage.

. Referring more particularl to the accompanying drawings, 10 in icates a card table of substantially conventional design and appearance. The top 11 of this card table is formed with an opening 12, fitted with a transparent cover 14 preferably of heavy glass. This glass cover 14 for the sight opening 12 is fixed to the table top in a manner so that its upper surface will be flush with the playing surface of the table.

Arranged beneath the top 11 of the table and in alignment with the sight opening 12 is an inclined trackway from one side of the table to the other.v At the lower end of the trackway 15 and in alignment therewith, the side'of the table l6 is formed with an opening 17.

Arranged on the trackway 15 for reciproeating movement thereon is a carria e 18, which is most-clearly illustrated in ig. 2. This carriage comprlses a flat body portion 19 fitted with rollers 20 at its center, and at one end, which bear on the trackway 15 so that the carriage may be reciprocated therealong. The width of this carriage 18 is such that it may pass through the opening 17 in the side of the table.

The body portion 19 of the carria e 18 is adapted to receive a score pad 2].- an a data bearing card 22 upon which the rules of 15, which extends the game or other data pertaining to the game may be printed. card 22 and the score-pad 21 are arran-e lon itudinally on the carriage, as illustrated in l ig. 2.

-At the upper end of the trackway 15, I provide a latching mechanism indicated by the numeral 23 in Fig. 5. This latch mechanism includes a airof pivotal keepers 24-, which are norma y yieldably retained in latchin position by a tension spring 25. These eepers 24 are adapted to cooperate with a latch pin 26 projecting from the upper surface of the carriage 18 at one end thereof. When the carriage 18 is moved to an unobstructing position, as shown in Fig. 3, the keepers 24 engage the pin 26 and latch the carriage in position.

To release the latch mechanism to permit extension of the carriage 18, I provide a push button 27 which is arranged in the side of the table contiguous to the opening 17. This push button 27 is connected to an operating rod 28, which is in turn connected to a pivotal lever 29 arranged transversally to the line of travel of the carriage 18. The inner end of this lever 29 engages the latch keepers 24 in such a manner that movement of the button 27 inwardly swings the lever 29 in the direction of the arrow (1. in Fig. 5. This will cause the latching ends of the keepers 24 to spread apart and release the latch pin 26. During this movement the end of the lever 29 will engage the end of the carriage 18, and tend to move the same toward the openin 17. As the carriage 18 is mounted on rolFers and the trackway 15 slopes downwardly toward the opening 17, the carria e will naturally roll toward the opening 1 until the end of the carriage projects or extends beyond the side of the table, exposing the score pad 21 so that the score may be recorded.

The amount which the carriage 18 may be extended is limited by engagement of the side rollers 20 at the center of the carriage 18 with the side of the table below the opening 17. This feature is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The trackway 15 is formed with a bottom panel having an opening 30 therein, which is below the side opening 12. This opening 30 is fitted with a hinged door 31 which'may be latched closed during the normal operation of the table. By extending the carriage 18 and opening the door 31 access may be had to the sight cover 14 for cleaning the same if necessary. A set of rules may also be fitted on the upper surface of the door 31 which will be exposed through the glass covered sight opening 12 when the carriage is extended. This is particularly advanta- "eons as it enables rules of auction bridge to disposed on. the carriage 18, and rules of he data bearing 31 contract bridge to be displayed on the door It will be noticed that the incline of the trackway 15 is such that when the score pad is in alignment with the sight opening 18, the upper surface of thecarriage 18 will be closely contiguous to the glass 14. This places the score in the line of vision of all the players at the table.

In operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a score pad and a set of rules are mounted on the carriage 18, as shown in Fig. 2 and the carriage is latched in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the score pad showing through the sight opening 12. At the termination of the game the score keeper presses inwardly on the button 27, which releases the keepers 24 from engagement with the latchpin 26, and at the same time causes the lever 29 to give a slight push to the carriage 18.- The carriage then rolls down the inclined trackway 15 and its -end which carries the score pad projectsthrough the opening 17 so that. the score may be recorded on the score pad. After recording the score the score keeper merely propels the carriage 18 inwardly until the latch pin 26 thereon engages the keepers 24, again latching the carriage in position. At this time the score pad on the carriage will be in alignment with the sight opening 12 and all the players may see the score.

If it is desired to refer to the rules the carriage is released and manipulated until the printed sheet of rules on the carriage is displayed through the window 14. If the rules beneath the carriage must be referred to the carriage is permitted to extend fully, so that the rules on the door 31 will be visible through the sight opening 12.

I desire to po1nt out that some games require that the score be kept in duplicate. In such a game two carriages and two trackways are provided which are oppositely disposed, the combined width of which agrees with the width of the sight opening 12. Each carriage and trackway is a complete unit and separately operated, so that two people at the table may keep score and both scores may be visible through the sight opening 12.

In Fig. 6 I have provided a different operating mechanism for the carriage. In this form of the device a horizontal trackway 32 is fitted beneath the table top, with one end in alignment with an opening 33 in the side of the table. The table top is formed with a window just as described in connection with the device shown in Fig. 1. Arranged transversally to the trackway is a lever 34 pivoted at one end to the table as at 3441.

The other end of this lever is connected to the carriage by means of a link 36. This connection between the carriage and the table enables oscillation of the lever 34 to be converted into reciprocating movementof the carriage. To oscillate the lever 34 I rovide an operating lever 35 which proects through an opening in the side of the table adjacent the opening 33 through which the carriage reciprocates. This lever 35 is fitted with a latch member 36a adapted to engage an abutment 37 in the table. A spring pressed lever 38 normally tends to position the operating lever 35 so that its latch 36a will engage the abutment 37 and revent reciprocation of the operating lever.

owever, by moving the operating lever 35 against the action of spring lever .38 the latch member 36a may be disengaged from the abutment 37 so that the lever 35 may be reciprocated to operate the carriage.

The latch member 36a also acts to limit the amount which the carriage may be extended. This is accomplished by causing engagement between the latch member 36a and the side of the table through which the lever 35 extends.

In operation of the device the carriage is normally latched, as shown in Fig. 6. In this position the score pad will of course be in alignment with the sight opening 12 in the table top. When it is desired to record the score the operating lever 35 is moved slightly about its pivotal point against the spring pressed lever 38 to disengage the latch 36m from the abutment 37. The operating lever 35 may then be withdrawn, which movement will be translated by the lever 34 and the link 35 into operation of the carriage 18, causing the end of the carriage 18 to project through the opening 33 in the side of the table. After the score has been recorded the operating lever 35 may be moved inwardly to return the carriage to its starting position with the score pad in alignment with the sight opening 12 so that the players may see the score.

When the lever 35 is moved inwardly to the full extent the spring pressed lever 38 will automatically shift the lever 35 into latching position to latch the carriage. The same mode of operation is required to disclose the rules or other data on the carriage through the sight opening 12.

From the foregomg it is obvious that I have provided an improved card game table which enables the score pad to be disposed not only in an unobstructing position, but in a position presenting the score in the line of vision of all the players.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that the various changes in its construction and operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a table top, an inclined trackway arranged beneath the table top, a carria e having rollers, interposed between the tab e top and the trackway and bearing on the latter, latch means normally retaining the carriage in latched position at the upper end 0 said trackway between the sides of the top, said latch means being operative whereby the carriage may be released and permitted to travel along the trackway by gravity and extend from one side of the table.

2. A device of the character described comprising a table top, an inclined trackway arranged beneath the table top, a carriage having rollers interposed between the table top andthe trackway and bearing on the latter, latch means normally retaining the carriage in latched position toward the upper end of the trackway between the sides of the top, said latch means being operative whereby the carriage may-be released and,

permitted to travel along the trackway by gravity and extend from one side of the table and means for limiting the amount which said carriage may extend from the side of the table.

3. A card table comprising a table top, a sight opening formed thereln, an inclined trackway arranged beneath the table top in alignment with said sight opening, a carriage arranged between the top and said trackway and having rollers bearing on said trackway, said carriage being adapted to bear certain data pertaining to a game to be played, latch means normally retaining the carriage latched between the s ides of the table with its data bearing portion visible through the sight opening, said latch means being operative to release said carriage whereby the latter will roll along the inclined trackway and project beyond one side of the table. 7

4. A card table comprising a table top, a sight opening formed therein, an inclined trackway arranged beneath the table top in alignment with said sight opening, a carriage arranged between the top and said trackway and having rollers bearing on said trackway, said carriage being adapted to bear certain data pertaining to a game to be played, latch means normally retaining the carriage latched between the sides of the table with its data bearing portion visible through the sight opening, said latch means being operative to release said carriage whereby the latter will roll along the inclined trackway and project beyond one side of the table, said carriage being of a length less than the width of the table whereby when it is extended it will be out of alignment with the sight opening whereby data may be disposed on the trackway beneath .the sight opening and be visible when the carriage is extended a 5. A card table comprisin a top, a sight opening formed centrally t ereof, a trans-' parent cover for said sight opening disposed with its u per surface flush with the upper surface 0 the table top, a trackway disposed beneath -said table top in align- 1 ment with said sight opening, a carriage mounted on said trackway with its upper surface contiguous to the under surface of the table top, databearing means ada' ted to be positioned on the upper surface 0 the carriage and arranged lon 'tudinally thereof, and visible through t e sight opening, said carriage being operative whereby it may be extended from one side of the table or be positioned with the data bearing means in ali ent with the sight opening, and means or latching the carriage in its nonextended osition, said means being operative from t e side of the table contiguous to the side from which the carriage extends. 6. In combination with a table having a sight opening formed in its top, a trackway formed on an incline with relation to the top and extending from a position beneath the sight opening downwardly toward one edge of the top, a data bearing pad mounted for movement along said trackway, and means for latching said pad in a position at the upper end ofthe traekway and in registry with said sight opening.

7. In combination with a table having a sight opening formed in its to a trackway formed on an incline with re ation to the top and extending from a position beneath the sight opening downwardly toward one edge of the top, a data bearing pad mount- 49 ed for movement along said trackway, means for latching said pad in a position at the upper end of the trackway and in registry with said sight opening, and antifriction means on the pad and engageable with the trackway whereby upon release of said latch means the pad will move by gravity to a position adjacent the said edge of the table top. so LUGIEN A. MARSH. 

